Disappearing bed



May 11, 1937. L. KoEFoED 2,079,939

DISAIPPEARING BED Filed Nov. 2l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l um .N

Z' as? www xmxmm May 11, 1937. L. KoEr-OED DISAPPEARING BED Filed NOV. 2l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fOED.

ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to disappearing beds, particularly to the type of bed which is secured to the back of a closet door, and has for its object to simplify the construction, mounting and operation of such beds.

A related object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting a standard bed on the back of a closet door without weakening the door or encroaching upon the storage space in the closet while at the same time permitting the bed to swing freely with the door and to be lowered to the floor with minimum eiort when the door is open.

As a result of these and various other features and advantages of my door bed, especially its I simplicity of construction and operation and its low cost of production as compared with other door beds which are expensive because requiring a special construction of bed and closet, and most of which are furthermore objectionable because they monopolize most or all of the available closet space, my construction is particularly well suited to present day low cost housing developments where economy of space and expenditure are of great importance and where it is essential to provide sleeping accommodations in rooms not designated as bed rooms.

The invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment which is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the bed folded against the closet door to which it is secured;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the door wide open;

Fig. 3 is a similar View with the bed lowered ready for use; A

Fig. 4 is a plan View with the bed folded against the door as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the bed lowered as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the cooperating locking mechanism on the bed and door.

The rectangular bed frame illustrated in the drawings is of standard construction, comprising a pair of longitudinal stretcher tubes' I terminating in housing brackets 2 which are riveted or otherwise secured to perpendicular angle irons 3 constituting the upper and lower ends of the frame. The support for the mattress comprises a wire network 4 reinforced with light steel flats 5 which are secured to the angles 3 by means of coilsprings 6. According to my invention a standard size bed frame of this type, 26" wide and 6'-0" long, can be installed on a 2-10X 6-8 door. If the door is only 2-6" wide the width of the bed frame should be re- 5 duced to 2-2" by eliminating the portions of the angle irons 3 which project beyond brackets 2, while on doors wider than 2-10 the length of the angle irons can be increased and the bed made wider Without otherwise changing its conlOl struction, the width of the bed frame in all cases preferably being four inches less than the width of the door.

The head of the bed is secured to the door 'l by means of a broad plate or bracket 8 of steel l5 or other suitable material which is permanently fastened to the base or bottom rail of the door and has end portions 9 bent at right-angles thereto as shown in Fig. 6. These end portions 8 of the bracket are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the overall width of the bed frame so as to accommodate the head of said frame between them. The bedframe is pivoted to the bracket 8 by means of rod Ill which passes through the stretcher tubes I and the end portions 9 of the bracket and is secured in place by nuts and cooperating internally threaded stub tubes I2 or other suitable retaining means. This bracket forms the actual support for the bedstead and when securely fastened to the bottom rail and lower ends of the door stiles adjacent the hinged side of the door will act as a cantilever beam, transferring the entire weight of the bedstead to the door hinges and at the same time reinforcing the door and preventing it from sagging.

In order to counterbalance the bed and thereby enable it to be raised and lowered gently, a plurality of double linked coil springs I3 are connected at one end to the angle iron 3 at the head of the bed adjacent the door, preferably being engaged in holes which are drilled in the angle iron for this purpose, and are connected at the other end to eyebolts I4 or other suitable retaining means adjacent the lower edge of the bracket 8. The number of coil springs I3, as Well as their tension, is determined by the weight of the bed. The stretcher tubes I are drilled adjacent the foot of the bed to receive a rod I5which is similar to the rod I0 and is pivotally secured to 0 the stretcher tubes in a similar manner, the purpose of rod I5 being to provide a pivot for the legs at the foot of the bed. The legs comprise a pair of tubes I6 which are pivoted on rod I5 and are connected by bracing rods II as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. The rectangular frame formed by the legs I6 and rods i'l is so balanced that the legs will descend by gravity when the bed is lowered and will fold up parallel with the bed spring when the bed is raised against the door. The lower ends of leg I I5 may be provided with casters I8 of rubber or other suitable material as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Plates or guards I9 are secured to the respective angle irons 3 at the head and foot of the bed and project several inches above the bed spring to act as a support for the mattress 20 and prevent same from shifting its position When the bed is raised or lowered.

The locking mechanism for securing the bed in vertical position comprises a spring plunger catch `22 which is secured to the angle iron 3 at the foot of the bed and is operated by chain 23; a stop member 24 secured to the door and having a recess in its outer end adapted to engage the spring plunger 25 of catch 22 which extends through the adjacent angle iron 3 and guard I9; and a strike plate 2G suitably recessed for the passage of said stop member 24 and plunger 25.

In operating the bed the mattress is tied down at the foot of the bed frame and the pillow and bedclothes are tucked in so that they will remain in place when the bed is raised and lowered. Assuming the bed to be concealed within the closet, the door 'I is first opened and locked by engaging the bolt of door stop 2 with the floor. Plunger 25 of catch 22 is then released by pulling on the chain 23 and the bed is lowered toward the oor. The linked coil springs i3 function before the Weight of the descending bed increases appreciably and the bed descends gently until the legs I6, adjusting themselves by gravity, meet the oor in a vertical position. By reversing this operation the bed is returned to the closet with the under side of the mattress flush with the partition surface in front of the closet and with only the stretcher tubes I projecting, thereby avoiding all interference with the hanging space of the closet as shown in Fig. 1.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and mode of operation described above Without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A support for a disappearing bed of the type adapted to be mounted upon a hinged door having a bottom rail and stiles adjacent to said rail at their lower ends; said support being characterized by a flat plate substantially coextensive with the bottom rail, secured thereto and extending therealong and over the lower ends of the stiles of said door and having spaced integral end portions perpendicular to the plane thereof, and a bed frame having one end pivotally supported by said plate on said end portions permitting said bed frame to be raised parallel to said door.

2. A support for a disappearing bed of the type adapted to be mounted upon a hinged door having a bottom rail and stiles adjacent to said rail at their lower ends; said support being characterized by a flat plate substantially coextensive with the bottom rail, secured thereto and extending therealong and over the lower ends of the Stiles of said door and having spaced integral end ,portions perpendicular to the plane thereof, a bed frame having one end pivotally supported by said plate on said end portions permitting said bed frame to be raised parallel to said door, and springs secured to the lower portion of said plate and to the adjacent end of said bed frame for counter-balancing said bed frame.

LOUIS KOEFOED. 

